Here are the minutes from the EGR conference call last night. It was another great conversation! Some highlights and action items: *As the program year is starting, now is a great time to remind your congregations to fill out the online MDG survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ky1DycqqjAkPULvty3sK1g_3d_3d) or (http://tinyurl.com/2t47gw). instructions for accessing data from completed surveys will be sent in an email to this list later this morning. *Also, if you want to make your own MDG survey with more specific questions tailored to your congregation or diocese, you can use EGR's surveymonkey account. Email EGR administrative assistant Marguy McVey at e4gradm@gmail.com and she'll set you up. *There was unanimous enthusiasm about having a page on the website dedicated to diocesan conventions -- with handouts, interactive projects, resolutions ... anything that people planning an EGR/MDG presence at their diocesan convention can use. Mike will work with Bill Monk to get this up. *A need to have credible experts that people/congregations/dioceses can confer with as they look to set up microfinance programs with companion dioceses (and other places) was expressed. Two people (Craig Cole of Five Talents and Dabbs Cavin of Opportunity INternational Bank in Rwanda) have offered to be in contact (or to connect people with others to be in contact) with people looking to explore this. We will also look at making a simple "best practices" document for publication on the website.

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation Conference Call

Tuesday,  August 28, 9 pm EDT, 8 CDT, 7 MDT,  6 PDT,  5 AKDT

 

Participants:  Evelyn Piety; Penny Phillips;  Stephanie Schultz; Char Mills; Susan Holding; Tim Skimina; Mike Kinman; Marguy McVey; Dayna Jewson; Joyce Wilkinson

 

I.                    Welcome & brief introduction

II.                  Prayer, Readings and Reflection – see below

 

III.                Movement update from EGR – Mike Kinman, et. Al.

Due to Congress being in recess, there is nothing new to report from Mary Getz or Alex Baumgarten, from ONE Episcopalian Campaign/Office of Govt. Relations, or from Luke Fodor or Lynn Sanders, of Episcopal Relief and Development.

 

Mike expressed his continual joy and deep appreciation for the participants of these Conference Calls, citing their generosity, compassion and commitment to this mission as great gifts.

 

a.       Counting Prayers/Billion Prayer March

The foundation of everything we do is prayer.  It unites our work with God.  Thus, the philosophy of this project is that prayer binds people of all faiths together and helps us garner the strength to continue working through obstacles, to solutions, together.  Please see www.countingprayers.org, which offers much information and is for all faiths.  One action planned, the Billion Prayer March, is to include people of all faiths walking out of their churches at designated times, worldwide, to say a unifying prayer.  This act is to unify but to also demonstrate that the need to solve problems of global poverty is not a political issue; it’s a faith issue and a moral issue.  All are encouraged to sign up (on the website) and to introduce the idea to your parishes.  The prayer itself takes about 5 seconds and can be incorporated into the liturgy, and personally, everywhere.

 

b.      Congregational Surveys

Mike will send out information soon on how to use the SurveyMonkey account – both to access it and to use it as a resource to understand what various parishes are doing for the MDGs.  Since the Program Year is starting, now is a good time to utilize and to contribute to this resource.

 

c.       Website/Blog update

We’ve taken the opportunity provided to us by the hacker breaking into our old site to fast-track the new site (still www.e4gr.org) The basic template of the new site is up and operating.  Our website administrator, Bill Monk, worked all weekend and more to help the site recover.  In the process, he instituted some new protections and updated the scope and style of the site.  All of the former information will still be available, but much more will continue to be added over time. If you can’t find something yet, be patient … it will be there!

 

d.      Mapping project update

We’ve gained the assistance in this project of a Field Placement Student from the School for Deacons from the Diocese of California.  The mapping continues of all MDG ministries in the diocese of California – then we’ll focus on creating the national mapping.  It’s intended and believed that, eventually,  the map will cover every MDG ministry in the church – with all data for each ministry being able to be entered simply and in less than 10 minutes.

 

Mike noted he has just returned from two trips this week to support MDG activity, in Western North Carolina and Maine.  Both of which were productive visits.

 

Open floor for storytelling, questions, problem-solving, resource-sharing, exploring partnerships, conversation  

 

West Tennessee:  Evelyn Piety said West Tennessee had a Haiti Partnership Dinner which raised $10,000 for projects in Haiti.  Many of these projects focus on providing clean water, for which there is persistent, desperate need.  This partnership (or the Haiti diocese) has produced a “fabulous video”, one of the best Evelyn has seen about MDG efforts.  Evelyn is looking into how she might help provide access to the video, for anyone who may want a copy.

 

Spokane:  Char Mills’ diocese convention is in October.  The theme of which is Bread for the World, which will focus on local ministries, social justice and the MDGs.  The delegates and clergy will receive information on activities involving these.  Char’s bishop is very supportive of the MDGs.  They’ve created a Social Justice Outreach Commission, under which is the MDG committee, of which Char is one of two members.  To Mike’s offer to help in any way possible, Char inquired about options for flyers and bulletins to disseminate.  Mike noted there will be plenty of options for and access to these on the website.  He also suggested demonstrations of the MDG needs in concrete, physical terms, to bring their realities to light.  One idea to illustrate this was discussed, again:  The Popsicle Stick Cross, which has been created at the Genral Convention and by parishes, with great success.  Evelyn suggested getting in touch with the diocese ERD Representative, who can be very helpful in aiding such presentations and other preparations.

 

Mike noted that ERD is launching the MDG Inspiration Fund.  This was the result of the General Convention charging the Executive Council, ERD and Jubilee Ministries with applying the funds from the 0.7% designated for the MDGs.  One project , “Nets for Life”, to provide anti-malarial mosquito nets, is widely regarded as one of the best Malaria projects in existence – not just for a project by a faith-based organization.

 

N. Indiana:  After noting the Bishop of Honduras came for a visit, Tim inquired about how to learn more about creating Microloans.  Mike suggested this avenue of support is gaining popularity, yet must be done carefully and well, as there are scam artists who have also arisen and are taking advantage of such efforts.  Craig Cole, of 5 Talents, was described as the preeminent Micro Enterprise person in the Episcopal Church.  He can provide excellent instruction.  Further,  Dabbs Cavin, in Rwanda, is a great resource person, as is the organization “Opportunity International Bank,” for whom Dabbs works.  The latter organization should be contacted to discover whether they already have active microcredit projects in Central America and/or, specifically, in Honduras.

 

Eureka, Missouri:  Parishioners are donating phones to be given to residents of Mississippi and Louisiana, to be delivered during the fall convention in New Orleans.  Additionally, loose change is being collected to create donation checks for Katrina Relief projects.  There’s also the intention by Cindy Long to put up a display of what parishes are doing for the MDGs.

 

Mike noted that North Carolina had a world map at their diocesan convention with flags all over the world indicating MDG activities.  It not only grabbed people’s attention, but each of the flags in such a project can be saved to track and educate others about what’s being done globally to address the MDGs.

 

Chicago, IL:  Susie said they continue to think of ways to publicize the MDGs, including for their Diocese Convention, November 9th and 10th.  With 70-75 exhibits there, it would be good if they could produce something regarding the MDGs to be distributed and taken back to their parishes.

 

Mike suggested the key is to stand out, garner attention.  A great way to foster this is to recruit high school and college age youth and let them “go to town”, creating projects from their imaginations.  No idea is too nutty.  Further, powerpoint presentations are available on the website, for periods of 30-45 minutes and 1.5 - 2 hours.  Also, work with your companion diocese relationship.  Ask yourself if there are ways to incorporate not only their ideas and assistance, but their cultures, their music, art, etc.  This also celebrates the connections we have. – So think of expressing relationships and their joy.  – Then report back to us on your convention activities and we’ll put them on the diocese convention page of the website.

 

Mary Getz is a great resource, too, for presentations.  She’ll send tons of stuff, like ONE bracelets, etc.  T-shirts are also available, as are MDG signs.

 

Popsicle Stick Cross:  Anyone intending to create one - to illustrate the vast numbers of children dying every day from preventable and treatable causes - should use Wood Glue only.  Otherwise, the popsicle sticks, which everyone passing by is invited to glue onto the cross, tend to dislodge.  The popsicle stick cross is a great was to make the suffering and destruction of poverty physically represented.  Once created, the cross becomes an icon, a symbol of suffering and inspiration to action.  It can be (as they have been) sent traveling around the country and used in worship spaces.

 

West Virginia:  At the convention next month, Joyce Wilkinson will be interrupting the proceedings with planned “MDG Minutes”.

 

 

Closing Prayer and dismissal

Addendum: The initial million is the starting "seed money" to encourage donors to
meet the collective goal. While the $1 million itself is not part of
any matching program, that is not to say that money given to ERD is not
essentially matched by the National Church. As the official Relief and
Development agency of the Episcopal Church, ERD receives support from
the National Episcopal Church through in-kind contributions which keeps
administrative overhead low. The contributions of the National Church
mean that 92 cents from each dollar that ERD receive goes directly
towards its programs. This ratio is phenomenal as most other
organizations send on average about 75% of their gifts into program.

Of course that fact that we work primarily with Anglican partners allows
ERD to be a tool of unity within the Anglican Communion.

I hope that answers the question. I hope to be on the next conference
call to answer such questions.

Luke

Luke Fodor
Network Coordinator, Office of Church Relations
Episcopal Relief and Development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer,  Readings and Reflection

 

Prayer for the Church (BCP, p. 816)

                Gracious God, we pray for your holy, Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior, AMEN.

 

Gospel Reading for Feast of St. Augustine of Hippo – John 14:6-15

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know^* my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

8 

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ ⁹Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. ¹²Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If in my name you ask me^* for anything, I will do it. 15 ‘If you love me, you will keep^* my commandments.

 

Silence – 30 seconds

 

A reflection on the life of Augustine from “Brightest and Best” by Sam Portaro

Augustine’s theology, his knowledge of God and God’s truth, was derived from dynamic confrontation and human relationship. Nearly every great treatise Augustine wrote was a refutation or disputation, a response. He worked out his knowledge and love of God in human experience. The inner struggles, and the outer ones, became the sources of his knowing and the places of his loving God. A convert several times over to differing philosophies and theologies, he apparently knew well the role of debate and dialogue in the matter growth, those successive conversations that move us from one stage in life to another. He became a Christian largely because someone – usually his mother, Monica – argued theology with him.

 

In the give and take of relationship, Augustine formed a theology. It was not handed to him, but came of looking for and living with God in all the contradictions and confrontations. When we turn aside from conversation and confrontation, turn away from others, from the difficult questions, we turn away from God. As we grow ever more aware of the diversity of our human race, it becomes more difficult to embrace the demands of relationship, ever more tempting to let those who are different go their own way and to simplify our lives by admitting as little controversy as possible. Still, in Augusitne, we see the blessing and promise inherent in our present opportunities and our future possibilities.

 

Silence (30 seconds), followed by word or phrase reflections

 

 

The EGR Prayer

                Most loving God, as your desire for mercy for the poor is unrelenting, may we be unrelenting in our pursuit of mercy for all; as your compassion for the suffering of the poor knows no limit, may our heart overflow with compassion for all; as you long for justice for the poor, may we strive for justice for all. Open our eyes to the structures of oppression from which we benefit, and give us courage to accept our responsibility, wisdom to chart a sound course amid complexity, and perseverance to continue our work until it is finished. Breathe your life-giving Spirit afresh into your Church to free us from apathy and indifference; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.